# NTSB CEN24LA157: Piper PA-28-161, N564PU, Montmorenci, IN, April 12, 2024 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: April 11, 2024, 20:21 local (Apr 12, 2024, 00:21 UTC) - Place: Montmorenci, IN - Coordinates: 40.5, -87.033333 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.5000&lon=-87.0333&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Security/criminal event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/350) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA-FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 194087 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN24LA157 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/194087/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194087 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA157 ## Probable cause The pilot’s intentional flight into terrain as an act of suicide. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Intentional act: suicide](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02051015): Personnel issues › Miscellaneous · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-161, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02051015/cases.md?model=7102803), [All aircraft, 23 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02051015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Security/criminal event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/350) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-161, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/350/sequence.md?model=7102803), [All aircraft, 27 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/350/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot departed on a local night flight, conducted four traffic pattern landings, and then climbed to about 4,000 ft mean sea level. About 10 miles from the airport, ADS-B data showed the airplane made numerous turns before data ended. The airplane was located the next day in an agricultural field; it was destroyed by impact forces. Postaccident examination of the wreckage did not identify any anomalies that would have prevented normal operation of the airplane. The pilot left behind two notes suggesting that he was going to commit suicide. Following a death investigation, the county coroner classified the manner of death as a suicide. ## Factual narrative On April 11, 2024, about 2021 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-28-161 airplane, N564PU, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Montmorenci, Indiana. The pilot sustained fatal injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. According to ADS-B data, the airplane departed the Purdue University Airport (LAF), Lafayette, Indiana, about 1940, for a local night flight. The airplane departed runway 28, conducted four traffic pattern landings, and then continued northwest climbing to about 4,000 ft mean sea level. About 10 miles from LAF, ADS-B data showed the airplane made numerous turns before data ended about 2021. The airplane was located the next day by local law enforcement about 1400. The wreckage was located in an agricultural field and distributed on a magnetic heading of about 350°. The initial impact point was located about 70 ft from the main wreckage. The impact point contained the two-bladed propeller, propeller hub, and several separated sections of the lower fuselage. Fragmented sections of the left wing, engine components, and interior were found in the debris between the impact point and the main wreckage. Both wing leading edges were crushed aft to mid chord line. The forward fuselage was crushed aft to mid-cabin. The airplane damage was consistent with a high-angle and high-energy impact with terrain. Postaccident examination did not identify any preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. An autopsy of the pilot was performed by the First Forensic Medical Laboratories, Lafayette, Indiana. The autopsy report listed the cause of death as multiple blunt force trauma and the manner of death as suicide. The FAA Forensic Sciences Laboratory performed toxicology testing on specimens from the pilot. The pilot’s postmortem toxicology testing detected two metabolites of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (delta-9 THC): the psychoactive metabolite 11-hydroxy-THC in urine, and the non-psychoactive metabolite carboxy-delta-9-THC in cavity blood and urine. Caffeine and cotinine were detected in cavity blood by screening without secondary confirmation testing. 11-hydroxy-THC is a psychoactive metabolite of delta-9-THC. Carboxy-delta-9-THC is a non-psychoactive metabolite of delta-9-THC. Delta-9-THC (which was not detected in this case) is the primary psychoactive chemical in cannabis, including marijuana and hashish. Delta-9-THC may be smoked, vaped, or ingested recreationally by users seeking mind-altering effects. It may also be used medicinally to treat symptoms including illness-associated nausea and appetite loss. Psychoactive effects of delta-9-THC vary depending on the user, dose, and route of administration. It may impair motor coordination, reaction time, decision making, problem solving, and vigilance. Caffeine is a stimulant that is commonly ingested, including in coffee, tea, soft drinks, and chocolate, andis also an ingredient in certain anti-drowsiness medications and headache medications, as well as some illicit stimulant drugs. Cotinine is found in tobacco and is a metabolite of nicotine. Neither caffeine nor cotinine is generally considered impairing. The pilot left behind two notes. One of the notes was to a family member and the second was a general note, both of which suggested that the pilot was going to commit suicide. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N564PU](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N564PU), registered now, S/N 2842169, built 2002 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-161 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-161](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-161) (registry code 7102803) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 2842169 - Year built: 2002 - Airframe hours: 13662 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-D36 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Purdue Aviation LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 2, 2024 - Departed: LAF, West Lafayette, IN - Equipment: Stall warning system, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 20; injuries: fatal; private, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; toxicology performed ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: 320° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 10,000 ft broken - Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 29.54 inHg - Observed at: KLAF, 7 nm away - METAR: KLAF 120054Z AUTO 32007KT 10SM BKN100 11/07 A2954 RMK AO2 SLP005 T01060067= ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20240411005409A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240411005409A), Apr 11, 2024: Piper PA-28-161, West Lafayette, IN, Destroyed, 1 fatal. On April 11, 2024, at approximately 19:33 EDT, a Piper aircraft, model P28A, departed the [privacy data omitted] airport (klaf) in West Lafayette, Indiana. The… ## Docket (6 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 20, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194087. 5.6 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 896 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17469644&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photo array (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 905 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17469387&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-Rel.pdf - Toxicological report (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 622 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17470233&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FAA%20Tox_Redacted-Rel.pdf - FAA inspector statement (item 4, PDF, 2 pages, 175 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17469184&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Accident flight ADS-B kml (item 5, KMZ, 126 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17469779&FileExtension=kmz&FileName=20240411_A7371E_546105246-Rel.kmz - Accident flight ADS-B csv (item 6, XLSX, 2.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17468797&FileExtension=xlsx&FileName=20240411_A7371E_546105246_ADSB-Rel.xlsx From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.